Sometimes a really good thing takes awhile to get started, and sometimes it comes together through a divine happening in just a few short weeks. Ideas, inventions, songs, books, albums, new musical groups — they just need people to believe in them and the funding to get off the ground.

Thankfully, the Internet offers online fundraising space for artists at Kickstarter.com, and one local band Alma y La Tierra Muerta took advantage of this website in December 2012. An individual or group uses Kickstarter by offering perks (free downloads, posters or other merchandise) to the the people who donate money to whatever cause or project they have or offer.

In the case of Alma y La Tierra Muerta ("soul of the dead Earth" in Spanish, which the band said refers to "soul of the desert"), they wanted to produce 1,000 of their first Americana-folk album on vinyl and digital downloads — a project with a price tag of $4,500.

The self-titled album would include 10 original songs to be recorded on a Tascam and was set to be released in March. The one speed bump, however was that the trio didn't have a whole lot of money to get this project off the ground. What's a band of 20-somethings to do? After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the dream has become reality. Cellist Neeshia Macanowicz said the group's enthusiasm has been refueled.

"It boosted our energy and increased our optimism about the group.

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We practice every Monday as a group and are starting to meet five times a week for five hours a day," she said.

Work and school schedules keep them busy, but somehow the group manages to make time for their music. Band mates David Tucker (mandolin) and Audra Rodgers (guitar and vocals) also admit their dedication to the group.

"Music is a calling. It's more than an outlet for me," Tucker said, who hosts music nights at his house for local musicians to connect, jam and sing in a welcoming, supportive open-mic session.

Those sessions became the Doña Ana Music Night Union. It was at one of these music nights when the three musicians met and began blending their unique folksy-classical sounds together. They've been a band for the last year, and have played together for the last two.

This weekend they will play two free shows, at 8 p.m. Thursday at High Desert Brewery, 1201 W. Hadley Ave., and 7 p.m. at Vintage Wines, 2461 Calle de Principal in Mesilla Friday. The group will also appear at El Patio on the Mesilla plaza on Jan. 31 for a $3 cover show backing Sean Lucy of Albuquerque who identifies on Reverb Nation as "folk/cowboy junkie/old timey."

Alma has played a few local venues and a couple of mini-tours, but hope to time their six-and-a-half-month tour's departure with their album-release party at 7 p.m. May 2 at Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St.

They plan to travel to 42 states and 190 cities in a 2001 Chevy 15-passenger van with 700,000 miles on it already. They'll do this while promoting the Doña Ana Music Night Union and, in essence, aim to represent and support the musical community of New Mexico, Macanowicz said.

"We'd like to pave the way for touring bands and others like us. We really hope to open up opportunities for everyone," she said.

Tickets to the album-release event will be $10, and those interested in purchasing are encouraged to email almaylatierra@gmail.com.

"There's no way I would have started playing shows if it wasn't for the music nights at Tucker's house," Rodgers said.

She writes the lyrics and sings for the group and also designed the cover art. All three are multi-instrumentalists on strings, keyboards, woodwinds and obscurities such as the singing saw or spoons.

Classically trained, Macanowicz said she tries to keep things organized for the group, coordinating schedules and transportation.

Tucker is in seven local bands and has established many musical connections within the community. While also offering technical expertise, Tucker has experience in the recording studio. This dropped costs considerably on their new album.

Tucker said that while those who buy the album may not own a record player on which to play Alma's new album, when paired with the digital downloads, it's more of a keepsake than anything.

"Having it in vinyl makes it a tangible collectors' item. Hopefully, people have a way to listen to it whether on vinyl or digitally," he said.

Daniella Wiedel is a freelance writer and may be reached at daniella.wiedel@gmail.com.